Yes, Yoga Can Help With Anxiety and Depression—Here's Exactly How

Claire Fountain—celebrity yoga teacher, personal trainer, and wellness expert—founded #TrillYoga with her unorthodox approach to break stigmas and stereotypes in the yoga and wellness space. After getting into yoga for depression and anxiety, she has always been a mental health advocate beyond all her fitness endeavors. She also has an ebook series called Built and Bendy that promotes strength training and flexibility, mindfulness, and leading your health goals from a positive place.

This pose stretches the hips deeply while opening the chest and shoulders, and requires focus. Interlace your fingers at your tailbone or behind your back in Warrior One. Lift your chest and widen your collarbones. Maintain your balance as you fold forward and allow your arms to come overhead, or lift as much as comfortably possible. Release your head and neck. Come out of this pose the same way you got into it with strength and balance.

This pose is balancing and calming. It creates an opposite stretch for Camel through the upper back, shoulders, and neck. Keep your gaze inward as you're starting the pose, and grab your heels with your hands. Bring your forehead as close your knees as you're able to. Roll forward onto the crown of your head as your hips come off your heels.

Supported Corpse Pose/Relaxation

This is a favorite for relaxation but one that can be modified. Feel free to support your body with blankets or props. You can also bring the soles of your feet together and let your knees fall to the sides in a reclined Cobbler's Pose (like a butterfly stretch).

Lie on your back, close your eyes, and move your attention back to your breath. Try to make your exhales twice as long as your inhales. Relax the muscles of your face and body, and allow yourself to “melt” into the floor that is supporting you. Stay here a few minutes.

Always remember to take Savasana. Final relaxation might be the highest form of practice and the most rewarding bit of meditation you give yourself.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in the place of advice of your physician or other medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first with any health-related questions. See our full health disclaimer here.